During his fight, he's had a chance to be an honorary sheriff -- of several counties -- and a state trooper. He's met NASCAR drivers and hung out with the vice president. But what he really wanted for his birthday was to make a "Running Man Challenge" video.

Nurses at Duke Hospital worked to make that wish come true for Howell.

Howell has stage 4 brain cancer, and it has hit his spine, but despite his diagnosis, he's determined to smile.

"We're going through a difficult time right now but he's so positive," Howell's mother, Sue Brown, said.